Hockey player Thane Kondrat is best known for his proficiency on the ice, but he’s hoping to pivot that prowess into a more entrepreneurial lane by launching a new clothing line.
Kondrat – a defenseman on the Cochrane Generals of the Heritage Junior Hockey League – has a long personal history with shinny, playing on a number of different town teams since he was a toddler.
In addition to his countless hours as a rink rat, the 19-year-old has earned a reputation for his community commitment off the ice. Last year, the Cochrane Minor Hockey Association honoured him with its inaugural Mike Bigland Memorial Scholarship, an award that celebrates hockey players who carry on the late coach’s legacy of “character, kindness and patience.”
Kondrat has also been recognized for his work with the Boys and Girls Club of Cochrane and Area as one of the Town of Cochrane’s 2016 Leaders of Tomorrow.
This spring, during the Generals’ playoff run, Kondrat was on the receiving end of a brutal hit during Game 3 of the HJHL semifinal series against the Coaldale Copperheads.
The check severely dislocated his right shoulder, knocking Kondrat out of the race for the rest of the season.
He used the unfortunate timing to kickstart an enterprise he’d been dreaming about for some time: a fitness apparel company, K Aesthetics.
True to Kondrat’s charitable history, he is donating $2 from the sale of every item to the Boys and Girls Club – the organization he currently works for.
“I want to just to give back to the community,” he said.
Currently, K Aesthetics has a hooded pullover and a baseball tee in a number of different mens and womens sizes and colours. Kondrat has plans to expand into more clothing, as well as hats and other items, as the business progresses.
K Aesthetics is available online at thaner2.wixsite.com/kaesthetics.
